Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The best fall and Halloween movies.

There are certain movies that I like watching at certain times of the year. I'm especially big on Christmas films, but I do have some fall and Halloween favorites as well. :)

If this post seems vaguely familiar, that's because I posted about it last fall. But since then, I have a few more movies to add, so here is my new list.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

What would any season be without watching the corresponding Peanuts movie? I love that blockhead and the rest of the gang. This one is especially lovely, what with the famous Lucy and Linus theme at the beginning and Charlie Brown's holey costume and Snoopy's escapades.

The Addams Family and Addams Family Values

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They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky...they're perfect for Halloween. Not to mention they have the most ridiculously fun theme song ever, even if you're like me and can't snap your fingers properly to save your life. I recently rediscovered the first film, which was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I haven't rewatched the sequel yet, but I'm planning on seeing it this week {edit: I just watched the sequel. It has its funny moments but it also has a lot more inappropriate content than the first one. I prefer the first one!}. I also think I'm going to start saying "screa-um" instead of "scream."

Arsenic and Old Lace

The perfect Halloween movie. Creepy, hilarious, clever, and very spoofy. This film includes: graves in the cellar, a madman upstairs, arsenic, a cemetery next door, a hideously scarred face, and a body in the window seat. And Teddy Roosevelt. "Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops."

Penelope

Any excuse to watch one of my most favorite movies ever. It's a modernish fairy tale involving a disguise, and there are Halloween costumes included at the end. That's enough to classify it as a "Halloween movie," in my opinion. :) And when my knitting skills improve, I am totally making a scarf like that. I love it.

Your choice of Alfred Hitchcock films.

There are so many options here. Hitchcock is the king of making movies suitable for Halloween viewing. Personally, for creep factor, I would recommend Strangers on a Train, Rear Window, and Psycho.

Alice in Wonderland

I love the newest one, the Disney animated one, and the 1933 one. They're all odd enough to watch around Halloween.

Monsters, Inc.

Monsters just don't get any scarier than this, right? I adore this movie! It's a perfect example of the genius of Pixar (it's my favorite Pixar movie). It's so clever and hilarious.

Jane Eyre

With how they played up the dark, Gothic elements of this story in the new adaptation, it really feels like a spooky fall story. I wrote about it here.

Meet Me In St. Louis

Honestly, Meet Me in St. Louis took a while to grow on me. Especially the Halloween scene...I just thought it was really strange. Now I love it, most horrible one. :) But seriously...where on earth were the parents while their young children ran about playing with fire and throwing flour in people's faces??

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I love the book series, and I also love the movie, even though the plot is almost pitiful compared to the books. The film is gorgeous, with a gloomy, Victorian/Gothic feel. And the soundtrack is beautiful.

You've Got Mail

I fell in love with this movie earlier this year. And part of it takes place in the fall! "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

Harry Potter series.

{I love how the emotions range in this photo of the trio. Harry looks terrified, Hermione looks a little worried, and Ron looks bored.}

If you're a Harry Potter nerd like me, a HP movie marathon sounds pretty awesome. :) But it's probably best to wait until November 11th so you can include the finale, too.

What are your favorite films to watch during the fall or for Halloween?

6 comments:

Oh my word this whole collection is incredible. One of my favorite Halloween movies, that people think I'm making up (but I promise it exists!) is "Halloween is Grinch Night." It has the Christmas Grinch in it and he comes down to terrorize the Who's (as per usual). The Who's are are totally afraid of the Grinch but most of them haven't even seen him. Only a little boy named Nicoriah is brave enough to venture out. The cartoon is meant to just be fun but the way Nicoriah faces his fears and his nightmares is actually a pretty cool story. I'm also a fan of Hocus Pocus. It is corny-amazing. And Jane Eyre - sigh. Love. Love. Love. The book. That movie with The Fassbender. It's such a gorgeous and haunting story. (And Harry Potter is perfect for any season, truly.) :)

Penelope, Meet Me in St. Louis, You've Got Mail, and Harry Potter are all some of my all time faves!!!! And it seriously isn't fall until my family watches Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. It's the same in the winter. It isn't Christmas until we've watched the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas. :)